Stitching machine for bookbinding and like purposes



A. J. KITCAT Feb. 13, 1951 7 2,541,367

STITCHING MACHINE-FOR BOOKBINDING AND LIKE PURPOSES I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1949 Invs/V ran l9; EKEZJ Tamas flfcar Feb. 13, 1951 A. J. KlTCAT 2,541,367

STITCHING MACHINE FOR BOOKBINDING AND LIKE PURPOSES Filed June 11, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inve'u re a;

Hag/v r5 A. J. KITCAT Feb. 13, 1951 STITCHING MACHINE FOR BOOKBINDING AND LIKE PURPOSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 11, 1949 A. J- KITCAT Feb. 13, 1951 STITCHING MACHINE FOR BOOKBINDING AND LIKE PURPOSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 11, 1949 I; yEn/Tam flLFREfi $9 155 Airmr Patented Feb. 13, 1951 STITCHING MACHINE FOR BOOKBINDING AND LIKE PURPOSES Alfred James Kitcat, Somerset West, Cape Province, Union of South Africa Application June 11, 1949, Serial No. 98,477 In Great Britain July 12, 1948 10 Claims.

This invention relates to stitching machines for book-binding and like purpose where e. g. it is required to stitch through the fold or spine of laminated sheets. Existing machines for stitching sheets in book-binding are constructed in a manner which renders their cost of production prohibitive particularly when required for use by printers and book-binders who are not in the position to cater for large scale production. The object of the present invention is to provide a stitchin machine, which, as compared with existing machines for stitching books and the like,

is cheap to manufacture and simple to maintain in use.

A stitching machine for book-binding and the like according to the present invention is characterised broadly in' that th means for passing the stitches through the work comprises a plu= rality of needles carried by a rotary driven'support which brings them successively into a common stitching position and urges them through the work, means being provided to feed the needles with thread or fine gauge Wire, and the arrangement being such that all of the needles act upon a common track or length of the thread or fine gauge wire and feed it through the work.

The apparatus according to one form of the present invention is intended for use in the stitching of books, pamphlets or the like, in which the work is partially opened V fashion and fed through the stitching stage so that the longitudinal fold or spine is exposed to the stitching means, and the aforesaid perforators or needles, hereinafter referred to as needles, are arranged as a set equidistantly spaced and projecting beyond the periphery of a circular rotor, such periphery having a cross-section which is substantially complementary with converging inclined surfaces over which the work is guided, the outer extremities of the needles being grooved to en- 'gage a suitably tensioned length of thread extending along the plane containing 'all of the needles, the needles being individually displaceable relatively to the periphery of the disc during each needling or threading operation to compensate for the difference in the generator of movement of each needle relatively to the line of travel of the work.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect drawings are appended hereto illustrating an embodiment thereof, and wherein,

Figure 1 is a front elevation view with a portion of a work supporting saddle thereof removed.

direction of the arrow A.

Figure 3 is a view of Figure 1 taken in the direction of the arrow E.

Figure 4 is a broken front elevation view of the needling device.

Figure 5 is a broken front elevation of a device for spiking the work before the needling operation.

Figures 6 and 7 are detail perspective views of a spike and a needle.

Figure 8 is a section on the line VIIIVIII of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a detail front elevation view show ing th locating and angle limiting means with each needle or spike, and

Figure 10 is a vertical section of Figure 9. Referring to the drawings, an inverted V- shaped saddle l is providedfor the support of the work 2 whilst the work is being fed through the stitching stage, the ridge or peak of the saddle being provided between its ends with a slot 3 and also being substantially tangential with respect to the periphery of a disc 4 having a central hub carried by bearings 5 on a horizontal shaft 6 disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the ridge of the saddle. The disc 4 carries a gear wheel 1 with which meshes a gear wheel 8 driven off power transmission means indicated generally by the reference numeral 9 actuated off a primary shaft l0 driven by worm gearing II from an input shaft l2.

The peripheral speed of the disc 4 is substantially identical with the rate of travel of the work 2 along the said saddle. The disc 4 can be a metal casting with a concentric hub for attach.- ment to the shaft 6 and its bearings and at equjir distantly spaced intervals near its periphery are provided a plurality of apertures l3 '(seeFigur-e 9) receiving pivotpins 14 for a corresponding number of needles I5, each needl having an annular inner end It for receiving the appropriate pivot pin, the needles projecting beyond the periphery of the disc for a distance which will enable them to pass through the work 2 fed along the saddle I. The annular pivoted end of each needle is provided with a crank l1 across which and a cooperating one of a number of apertures 18 in a ring 20 disposed closely about the hub of the disc is connected one of a plurality of coiled tension springs l9. -That is to say, the coiled tension springs I9 substantially radiate from the axis of the disc and act upon the needles so as to urge the free ends of the needles towards the periphery of the disc. H p 1' The periphery of the disc in the present embodiment, is of V section as at 4 (see Figure so as to be complementary with the ridge part of the inverted V-shaped saddle I, and on the side of the disc against which are located the needles and associated springs, the corresponding side of the V-"-shaped: periphery of the disc lain.- terrupted by a plurality of gaps 2! in whichoperate the needles, the arrangement being such I that the tension of the springs l9 press the free ends of the needles forwardly relatively-to the;

true radial direction against the trailing; end:

frame. The tension and pressure or the lower track of the belt 35 against the opposed edge of the belt 3| tensions the loops 28 to ensure a corresponding tensioning of the parts 30 of the thread, the loops 28 being guided between the upper edge part ofv the lower track of the belt 31' and the lower trackbf' the, V) belt 35 by a deflector finger or plate 39'affi'xed'to any convenient part of the machine and having a deflecting face parts 22 (see Figure 10) of the segments. 23 of as the disccontinues-rotat-ing and thework coni temporaneously travels forwardly, the resultant drag on the; needles (5 as they move forwardly and downwardly away from the work is com- The inclination of theneedlesrelative to:

for engaging the loops which bends slightly over the: adjacent. part-oi. the ridge member 33. The part of. the lower track of the belt 3| which cooperates with the, V belt 35 is maintained in firm flat: relationship with the work so that its upper edgewill constantly align with the V belt by meanssof. a resilient plate 40 secured at its ends to; upper horizontal angle bar 42 bridging a pair oil and brackets 43 of the machine frame, these end brackets, only one of which is shown inFigure 1, serving at one end to support idler pulleys 4'3 and 44 for the belts:- 31' 32 136,- spectively, these belts being passedover driving: drums 45 and 45: respectively carried by shafts 4'! and 48 j'ournalled' in sleeves 49' and 50 formedv as part of" a frame member 51'. The shafts: 41

. and 43 are caused to rotate. in unison. by: the

pensated for by reason of the needles being free to swing rearwardly relatively tothe disc 4' until they nearly contact the leading edges 24- of the segments 23 and leave the work", whereupor-r'they will be returned to normalposition by reasserti'on or: their" springs. The free end of each needle 15 is notched" as at 15 in the direction of the plane through which theneedles travel, and; the thread is drawn" through a guide 2!- from the supply spool 2.6 over the notches of the uppermost needles sothat as the needles rise into engagement with the work they carry with them a length of the thread which is forced through the work in a form of a loop. As each needle leaves the work the loop of the thread" is left in the work so that each piece of work has threaded therethrough' a plurality ofloops 28 (see Figure 4) formed from a common length of thread;

Gne' or' more rotary gumming discs 29; one being shown by way of example, can be provided beneath the saddle beyond the stitching stage for transferring a thin line of" gum from a reser voir 29" to the tensioned parts 39- (see- Figure '4? Of the thread exposed on the underside of the work 2-, i. e. exposed along the interior of the fold of the work, and the work can be assisted through the gumming stage by a, pair of endless feed belts 3F and 32 each having a track close to'onefiank of the saddle for-engagingthe work; a ridge piece 33' extending along the apex of the saddle lito enable the belt 32: tolay co-planar with the inner part-ofthework adjacent thetop of the saddle. A slot 34. is provided along the ridge piece 33 to expose the thread parts 36 to the gumming disc.

In order to ensure-obtainingtensioning of the partsof the thread, the looped parts 2.8 of the thread as they'leave the stitching stage; are deflected slightly uni-laterally so that in advance pr. their reaching the gumming' stage such loops become grippedbetween the upper edge of the lower track of the belt 31 (see-Figure 8) and-the lower-track of a V belt guided over-end pulleys 36 which, in common with a line of relatively smaller rollers 3'! are supported'by a plate 38 carried by a convenient part of the machine mutual engagement of gear" wheelsv 52: and 53 formed thereon respectively. Theagear wheel 53Z is drivenfrom a. pinion 542 on oneendi of a. uni versall-y' jointed shaft: 55 which by any suitable: gearing, not shown; receives; rotation, froma shaft 9' of the. transmission 9..

To ensure ease of penetration oi? the needlesv 15 through the work so as to avoid excessive strain on. the-thread! it; is preferred to. perforate the work at: the predetermined thread receiving parts before. it: reaches the needling stage, and: for this; purposev perforating" means operating synchronism with the needling means-is provided. in advance of the needlingstage. Thisperforat ingmeans comprises aadisct-55f rotating: om abort? zontal shaft 51. and constructed: in: identically the" same. manner as: the disc 4, thisdisc; 56' carry-sing: a: plurality of perforators-i 58. supported and operatida inthe same manner as. theneedles. 115; this being. apparent by reference td. Figure 5. which: it will be seen that. the perforatcrs; 58, rock onpivot pins 59 and have cranked; extensions;- 60 connected by coiled tension. springs 61; to a ring; 6.2: The ridge; of thesaddle. I. is. slotted-at 63.420 receive. the perforatorsv 58, and: aguard plate;v 5,4 is adjustably secured-along the; ridge ofv the' sade die: by adjustable brackets 65,. this guard plate being. slotted. at. 3. and 63. respectively to: align with. the aforesaid slots. 3 6.1 inthe rid e at a tures; formed by the. perfiorators 58. with: respect tothe ends of each workrpiece sogthatlwhelithe' WOIKr'D BCBS. enterthe needling. z ne. the needles l5. will. enter freely the, preformed. aperturesx at passingthe threads, therethrough.

Any suitable means may be provided; for. sever.- ing, the thread at. the; discharge. end of the sad.-' die and in. fact. this be, dcne manually, likewise may be the feeding of the work along; the saddle.

Icljaim:

'1. A. stitching. machine, for book-binding. and the like comprising an inverted. \l-shaped saddle" along which is. adapted to be. passed. the. work open inverted v. fashion. endless beltswith on posed work gripping tracks guided along the saddle, a plifrality-'ofeouidistantly spacd needles mounted upon a common rotary support.rotat mason a h rizontal axis. benea t e, .o saddle, means pivotally connecting the needles toithe said rotary support-at a common radial distance fromtheaxis of rotation of said support I so that the pointed ends of the, needles project beyond" the periphery of the said support, an aperture in the said ridge through which ,the needles pass to. engage in ,the'work, axplurality of abutments at the periphery of said support limiting the angle of oscillation of the said needles, spring means urging the said needles about their pivotal support in the direction of rotation of the periphery of the support against some of said abutments, a groove across the free end of each needle extending along the plane of movement of the needles, and means to feed thread to said grooves.

2. A machine according to claim 1, including an adhesive applying rotary member disposed beneath the ridge of the saddle and having an adhesive receiving periphery thereof exposed for engagement with the inner 'folds of the work and adapted to apply adhesive along the portions of the thread exposed along such inner folds of the work.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the said needles are individually supported by pivot pins passed through a disc rotatable upon a horizontal axis, the outer peripheral part of the disc being formed with a marginal annular portion interrupted at intervals to afford gaps for the reception of the needles, the fore and aft terminal parts of said gaps forming the said i abutments for limiting the angle of movement of the needles, the needles having extending inwardly relatively to the periphery of the disc cranks across which and anchorage means disposed towards the centre of the disc are connected coiled tension springs.

4. A machine according to claim 1 including means for perforating the work for the reception of the thread before the work reaches the needling zone.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein said perforating means comprises a plurality of perforators mounted upon a rotary support in the same manner as the said needles and having pointed free ends adapted to be forced through the work at the ridge of the saddle.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein the said perforators are individually supported by pivot pins passed through a disc rotatable upon a horizontal axis, the outer peripheral part of the disc being formed with a marginal annular portion interrupted at intervals to afford gaps for the reception of the perforators, the fore and aft terminal parts of said gaps forming the said abutments for limitingfl'the angle of movement of the perforators, the perforators having extending inwardly relatively to the pe riphery of the disc cranks across which and anchorage means disposed towards the centre of the disc are connected coiled tension springs.

7. In a stitching machine for book-binding and like purposes the provision and means for passing stitches through the work and which comprises aplurality of needles a rotary driven support carrying all of said, needles which brings them successively into a common stitching position and urges them through the work, means to feed the needles with thread or fine gauge wire, and the arrangement being such that all of the needles act upon a common track or length of the 6 tnreaa'crnne gauge wire and 'feed it through the work i 'rneans' adapted to'gripfand apply tensionto the parts of the thread-exposed above the work "after the work has passed the needling zone so that the parts of the thread exposed along the inner folds of the work are tensioned to lie close alongth'e-"folds, and means to apply adhesive to said tensioned latter parts of the thread, said thread tensioning means being located so as to be szfiectivewon the thread during the application of adhesive to the parts of the thread exposed along the inner folds of the work.

8. A stitching machine for book-binding and the like comprising an inverted V-shaped saddle along which is adapted to be passed the work open inverted V fashion, endless belts with opposed work gripping tracks guided along the saddle, a plurality of equidistantly spaced needles mounted upon a common rotary support rotating on a horizontal axis beneath the ridge of the saddle, means pivotally connecting the needles to the said rotary support at a common radial distance from the axis of rotation of said support so that the pointed ends of the needles project beyond the periphery of the said support, an aperture in the said ridge through which the needles pass to engage in the work, a plurality of abutments at the periphery of said support limiting the angle of oscillation of the said needles, spring means urging the said needles about their pivotal support in the direction of rotation of the periphery of the support against some of said abutments, a groove across the free end of each needle extending along the plane of movement of the needles, means to feed thread to said grooves, means adapted to gri and apply tension to the parts of the thread exposed above the work after the work has passed the needling zone so that the parts of the thread exposed along the inner folds of the work are tensioned to lie close along the folds, and means to apply adhesive to said tensioned latter parts of the thread, said thread tensioning means being located so as to be effective on the thread during the application 01 adhesive to the parts of the thread exposed along the inner folds of the work.

9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein said tensioning means comprises an endless belt having one track opposed to and engaging the upper edge of the track of the belt engaging the upoer part of the work. this engagement of the latter mentioned two belts being effective in close proximity to the ridge of the saddle.

10. In a machine for stitching articles a rotary needle carrying head, means to feed the work substantially tangentially with respect to the periphery of the rotary head, a plurality of needles individually articulated to the head and projecting from the periphery thereof so that for each complete revolution of the head the needles successively penetrate the travelling work, means to feed thread along the work between the rotary head and the work so that as the needles approach the work they successively pick up and then force the thread through the work and as they move away from the work they leave loops of the thread projecting through the work, means maintaining the needles each in a predetermined relatively fixed projecting relationship with the periphery of the head during their movement outside the work stitching zone so that their free ends enter the work approximately perpendicular with respect to the work and means permitting each needle to gradually change its directional relationship with the head whilst in engagement with the work so as to maintain the needles sub- Number stantially perpendicular relatlonshlp with the 1245 work and returning theneedle to said relatively fixed projecting relationship when it leaves the 5 2,080,735 ALFRED JAlVIES KITCA'I.

REFERENCES CITED 7 Number The following references are of 'record in the m 50,813

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date. Ford Nov. 6, 1917 Blockson Mar. 18, 192*; Kristofek Mar. '17, 1931 Neubert et a1 May 18, I93 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Switzerland Mu--- Mar. 2; 1910 

